What an interesting question. That totally depends on the family, where you live, and the lifestyle you wish to stay accustomed to. Personally, I have a family of eight, with one child in college (we pay $3,000 a year on top of schlorships, grants, etc. for her). We live on approx. $36,000 a year gross (only my husband works). But, the majority of that goes for housing. We have chosen to use use the best possible house we can (roughly $18,000 a year for it...very nice!!!), drive used cars, and live off of the free things we get off line, my being very frugil and second hand stores/garage sales/flea markets. I can feed our family on $30 a week and we don't eat junk! I am also told my children dress better than everyone else, and I have the largest house in a brand new development.

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We live in Texas

In other words, there is no set amount on what you spend. I am of the opinion that the more you make, the more you spend! When I quit working twenty years ago we were making $60,000 a year for just my husband and I, and in such bad debt we filed bankruptcy. Last year, we also took in a friends children (five more...so eleven counting mine) and no help with money, or government assistance on that same $36,000. This year my husband has started a small home business and so we might make an additional $10,000 this year! However, we are spending it I am sorry to say, rather than saving...which, at least in our case, proves my point of you spend what you make.

I say you decide what is important to you, what you are willing to live with/without, and then you can live in that amount!